Poker Player

Qualifications

A-levels

Degree

Liv uses the skills that she learned studying physics to help her play poker at the very top level.

"People always say to me, 'you did this amazing degree, why are you wasting it playing poker?' My answer is, 'I’m not wasting my degree; it’s what enables me to be a fantastic poker player.' Poker’s a game about making complex decisions, under pressure, in a short period of time. There are so many variables that you have to filter through to make the correct decision – well, that’s what physics is all about - and that’s what has helped me when I am playing on the tables for millions of dollars.

"I chose physics at A-level because it was my favourite science, the most challenging and fascinating subject. I also knew that it’d give me a wide range of options for university and careers. And my advice for anyone choosing their A-levels is to do at least two “tough” subjects such as maths or science. Almost all employers look for that as it shows an ability to think analytically.

"After I graduated from university I did not know what I really wanted to do, although I knew I didn’t want to continue into research science. I saw an advert for a reality TV Poker show, with the tagline ‘Can you use your deception and skills to win £100,000?’.I thought it sounded like fun, so I entered and they taught us how to play poker. After I met some professional poker players and saw how they lived, I thought, "wow, this is an awesome job – that's what I want to do. And I’ve done pretty well at it. So far I’ve won over 2 million pounds playing poker.

“That’s the beauty studying of physics - you can apply the skills you learn to so many areas. Many of them, like poker, are not so obvious until you try them.”